Improvement in apparatus for extinguishing fires



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ISAAC H.' CLARK, OF lBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 99,291, dated February 1, 1870; an-tedatedJan-uary 20, 1870 IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING- FIRES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the sauneY To all to whomthese presen-ts shall come lire-extinguisher, which may be carried and operated by one person as a portable engine, or which may be combined with aV force-pump tire-engine, or street-hydrant, or water under pressure, as the case may be, being equally effective under any of' these conditions.

The invention consists in the employment of a closed vessel or reservoir, divided into two compartments, for receiving the two chemicals or constituent parts, which, when united, form the carbonio-acid gas, which is the agent employed to extinguish tires, the communication between the two chambers being` regulated and controlled bya valve 'of peculiar construction, and the lower chamber provided with a discharging-orifice or pipe, the whole being as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings 'above mentioned as illustrating my invention- A denotes a cylindrical vessel, made of a strength suthcient to withstand considerable internal pressure, such vessel being'closed at top and bottom, and pro vided at the former with a tilling-oriiice, a, the lower chamber also being furnished with a water-inlet orifice,

as shown at c.

A horizontal partition or floor, d, divides the vessel A intov two chambers e f, a vertical pipe, g, extending from the door nearly to the bottom of theV vessel, and through a foramnous door, k, fixed within such vessel, and a short distance above its bottom. 4

The pipe g is furnished with a cock or circular gate,

li, immediately below lthe door, such gate having one or more peripheral recesses le k made in it.

-A water-inlet or aperture, j, is formed in the lower chamber f, and in alignment or on a level with the :lower part oi' the gate, and connecting with the upright pipe g, and so that a stream or 'jet of water, tiowing through such oriiice or inlet, and into the chamber, shall impinge against the gate, and rise with the liquid from the upper chamber, as it is brought round by such gate, the water thus charged being discharged upon the bottom ofthe vessel A, from whence it rises upward through the folaminons door k, and impinging against the marble resting upon such oor, by this means charging the lower chamber with carbonic-acid gas, which, mingling with the water, is

forced by its own pressure within such water through the. outlet-pipe ofthe apparatus. This outlet is shown at on., as situated somewhat near the upper part ot' they chamber f, the entrance to this outlet being protected by a ganze shield, a, for prevcnting'entrance into the pipe of sediment or portions oi' gas-producing mate rial from the chamber.

The foraminous door is for the purpose of supporting the marble employed in generating carbonio-acid gas, as well as l'or allowingr sediment to collect below.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows:

A quantity of marble of other ingredients, preferably in small blocks or of a granulai` form, is placed within the lower chamherf, through its filling-orifice, the chamber then being partially iilledwith water, and the orifice tightly closed. A quantity of sulphuric acid is then placed into the upper chamber e, through its filling-critico a.

The apparatus is now ready for use; and when used as a` portable engine upon a persons back, and a lire is to be extinguished by the use of it, the gate is to'v be rotated one or more times by means of a handle orcrank applied to its shaft, every rotation of this gate allowing a small quantity of acid to be precipitated upon the marbleqor other ingredient or solution below,` thus producing carlmnic-aeid The cock ofthe discharge-pipe is next to be opened,

-and the water, thus impregnated with gas, issuing from such pipe under pressure, induced by itsownexpansion or any other force, to be directed upon the iiamcs to be subdued, with an eifect now well known and understood.

\Vhe,n used as a portable exigirle, as last described,

v the water-inlet pipe is to be closed bya suitable cock.

The apparatus, however, by means ot' this pipe', may be connected to a tireleugine, street-hydrant, or other supply of water under pressure.

Upon opening its cock, the stream of water passes in contact with the circular gate and rotates it, by this means causing a passageoi' sulphuric acid iom thc chamber e, which, mixing with the water, is discharged with it into the lower chamber j, and striking below its foraminous shelf, the marble or other ingredient or solution is charged with gas, the combined water and gas issuing from the chamber throughthe discharging pipe, by this ineans combining the advantages of an ordinary stream of water from an engine with that of t-heI carbonio-acid gas.

. The valve may be operated by means of a crank applied to its shaft, or by connecting such shaft to the, machinery of a tire-engine or pump.

I would remark that an opening, a,-should be made in the body of the cock, surrounding the gate t', and opposite the water-inlet pipe c, before mentioned, the

object of this opening being to allow of the escape of small quantities of liquid which would otherwise remain in the recesses of the cock, and be carried round by it. Y

I would remark that the foramincus shelf, although not a necessity, yet serves a valuable purpose, as before explained.

I 'would also remark that it will be obvious that ingredients or materials, other 'than those before described, may be employed to produce carbonio-acid gas, but I do not mean to limit myself to the use of any particular ingredients for the purpose aforesaid.

I would also remark that the valve or gate t', constructed as above described, will be found useful in explained.

I. H. CLARK.

lVtnesses GEO. A. LORING, FRED. CURTIS.. 

